"People never know why they do what they do. But they
have to have explanations for themselves and for others.” (LB)

"So von Sternberg's movies had to have plots even
though they already had them inherent in the images. What he did was make
movies naturally - he lived in a visual world. The explanation plots he made up
out of some logic having nothing to do with the visuals of his films. The
explanations were his bragging, his genius pose - the bad stories of his
movies. Having nothing to do with what he did (and did well), the visuals of
his films.” (JC)

"I don't think V. S. knew that words were in his way,
but he felt it - neglected them, let them be corny and ridiculous, let them run
to travesty - and he invested his images with all the care he rightfully denied
the words. And he achieved the richest, most alive, most right images of the
world's cinema - in company with men like von Stroheim, the genius of Zero de
Conduite, early Lang, & that limited company like Ron Rice.” (JS)

“If his hero is a phony for the purposes of the story, V. S.
casts an actory actor in the part & leads him into hammy performance. Which
comes to acting in V. S. films. He got his effects directly through the eye.”
(JW)

“To close the ears would have thrown the viewer into an
undersea, under-conscious world where the realities were very different from
what the script purported. He needn't have worried . As it was, no one had that
ability to see.” (EW)